If you were going to get a double in 45 cal. that you could find ammo in most of Africa what would it be?

My guess and I am only guessing is that it would be the 458 Win Mag,but there's a lot of controversy regarding such a caliber and it's suitability in a DR

Are you worried about a remote 'what if'?

What happens when the rifle misplaced? Toss rocks?

.458 win no doubt

bullwaller
I would say the 458 Win Mag would be the most likely .45 cal to be found.
I would also say get a .450#2 (better double round) and take plenty of ammo in several different bags. We have all heard of guns and ammo getting lost but I haven’t heard of all your bags getting lost at least not lately. I hope we can hear from some of the recent travelers.

I’d say the easiest to find loaded ammo for only the .458 diameter it would definitely be the 458 WIN MAG, followed by the 458 LOTT for bolt rifles! For double rifles my guess would be that old tried and true 450NE 3/14 inch, and after that just about any of the .450NE flanged cartridges.

I would say the easiest loaded ammo to find in Africa regardless of caliber but legal for dangerous game in most places would be in order easiest to hardest:

For bolt rifles:

#1 … 375H&H

#2 ….9.3X62

#3…..458 Win Mag

#4…. 458 LOTT

#5……460 Wby mag

# 6……505 Gibbs


For Double rifles:

#1….. 470NE

#2…..450NE 3 ¼ inch

#3…. 500NE

#4….. 577NE

However, if you are shooting a 458LOTT and loose your ammo, and can’t find 458LOTT, buy 458 Win Mag it will work just fine in your lott chamber! You may have to do a little adjust on your scope though.

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.470 NE

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buy 458 Win Mag it will work just fine in your lott chamber

Mac, how about a 450 Ackley? It'll do them all!

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Originally posted by ledvm:
.470 NE

He asked about 45 caliber, not 47.

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Originally posted by Biebs:

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buy 458 Win Mag it will work just fine in your lott chamber

Mac, how about a 450 Ackley? It'll do them all!

You are correct in you assesment of the 450 Ackley but it wont shoot in a 458 LOTT chamber, and I doubt you would find replacement ammo if yours was lost in transit!

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Originally posted by Snowwolfe:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
.470 NE

He asked about 45 caliber, not 47.

Last time I checked...I could read.

Just saying...if you want a double that is the easiest to buy ammo for in Africa...and ~.45 cal...the .470NE is the way to go.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
.470 NE

He asked about 45 caliber, not 47.

Last time I checked...I could read.

Good for you

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
.470 NE

He asked about 45 caliber, not 47.

Last time I checked...I could read.

Good for you

458WM is the answer to the question.

If I wanted a .458 calibre double rifle, and had the funds to suport such a purchase, I would attempt to buy the Heym 88B in .458WM that Will Parks referred to earlier if I could get it for $12,500 or less. I would not consider rechambering it, as Heym has demonstrated over the past decade that their ejectors have never once failed (unless can be proven otherwise) with the belted rounds vs. the extractor rounds.

Talk theory all you want. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak. Until a belted modern day double has proven to fail in ejection (not extraction) then I say buy the one that you like and is the best bang for your buck.

Naysayers, give real examples of failures in the modern Heyms, Chapuis's, Merkel's, H&H's. I don't think there are any.

We can find .458 Win and .375 H&H most anywhere as they are loaded here in SA by PMP. .416 Rigby is reasonably plentiful as well, whilst the .416 Rem is pretty close to unobtainable and not very popular at all. The bigger shops in the cities MAY have .470, but don't bet on it. .500, .450 NE, .500 & .404 Jeffery, .458 Lott and .505 Gibbs are scarce and close to unobtainable almost anywhere and the people I know who own rifles chambered for any of them are all reloaders. I know my post doesn't deal specifically with .450, but I thought I'd mention what's available over here so you know.